Spanish filmmaker Berlanga dies

[November 15, 2010]  MADRID (AP) -- Luis Garcia Berlanga, a Spanish filmmaker credited with helping to revive the country's movie industry after its civil war, has died at age 89.

Berlanga had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease and died at his home on Saturday, Spain's film academy said.

Born in Valencia, Berlanga wrote and directed his first short in 1948 and in 1951 made his first feature film, "Esa Pareja Feliz," ("That Happy Couple") in collaboration with Juan Antonio Bardem, father of Hollywood actor Javier Bardem.

Berlanga's 1953 film "Bienvenido, Mister Marshall" famously explored Spain's hopes that the United States would help restore democracy and prosperity as it had in much of Europe after World War II.

He is survived by a son, Fernando.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.